Bleeder by Christi J. Whitney

Author:Christi J. Whitney [Whitney, Christi J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christi J. Whitney
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

“So, I assume you know what you’re doing,” said Titus.

He studied Phoebus as they strolled down the sidewalk, heading into town.

“My dear Titus, surely you don’t doubt my leadership abilities.”

“Your abilities, no.” He shook his head. “But your sanity? Quite possibly.”

Phoebus cast a guarded look to ensure that Selene was still behind him, several yards back, keeping pace with Nyx. He hadn’t given her the option of walking with him.

He needed space to think.

The aura cast by the Electricus within her was visible, even away from the potent grounds of the marsh. It shimmered like a bluish apparition. He wondered why he hadn’t noticed it so keenly before tonight. Were her powers growing? Although he doubted any Leech would be able to sense her with so many Rovers so close, she still felt uncomfortably like a beacon.

Before leaving the inn, he and his Trine had donned their Rover uniforms. If they ran into another Leech, he preferred fighting in more suitable gear. Nyx had loaned Selene some Othersider clothing, and the dark jeans and V-neck shirt didn’t fit her quite right. But to him, she looked just as captivating in ill-fitting clothes as she did in her own. He stared daggers at the concrete walk, feeling Titus’ gaze boring into the side of his skull.

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Phoebus snapped.

“Because I’m waiting on the fantastic explanation you’re about to give me.”

He scowled. “Then you’ll be waiting a while.”

“Why the sudden lack of trust?” asked Titus, a sliver of hurt in his voice. “We’ve been friends for decades. You don’t have to keep up this pretense.”

“Actually, I do, thank you very much,” he said, gritting his teeth. “If I don’t, then I’ll…” He shook his head, almost violently. He didn’t like how close he was coming to the edge of his emotions. “Come on. We’re almost there.”

Titus peered down at him. “Fee—”

“Let’s go.”

Ahead, the dark shapes of docks and boats loomed against the darker shadows of water and sky just beyond. Phoebus cut a sharp right, checking the street signs almost as frequently as his Electricus senses. St. Mary’s City Park was a few blocks away. He increased his gait until the rest of them were jogging in order to keep up.

Titus remained annoyingly at his shoulder.

“At least tell me why you brought the girl to the inn,” he pressed. “It seemed like a risk.”

“Curiosity,” said Phoebus. “I wanted to see how Cruz would react.”

“Why?”

“I have my reasons,” he replied. “Let’s just keep it at that for now.”

“Fair enough,” sighed Titus. “For now. But what about Grimm?”

Keeping his eyes ahead, Phoebus rubbed the bridge of his nose with enough force to make it burn. It was bad enough that he was about to reveal forbidden secrets to the girl. But to purposefully keep secrets from an Elder? And worse, Preceptor Moth had the ability to read him better than most. He couldn’t be sure what she might tell Grimm, regardless of his reports. An unsettled wave rolled through his stomach.

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